Device for preventing fraudulent raising of checks, &amp;c.



, reciprocating plungero'r"equivalentjdeviec" of the machine embracingcharacter-send vTo all whom' zt may Cort/ferr," "i

f kMy inventioncontemjolate vcommon axis; as Va-shaflafand provided BESTNef 773,817.

Louis sMi'riroF oiioAGo, ILLiN'ois, AssiGNoR'oF ONE-HALF .To

' oHAitL'Es A; ARMBRUsCrER; oF oHioAeo, iLLiNois.

sv MLBUE CCP Patented November 1, 1904.'

DiavlcEvfoR PRB/ruime rRAubuLNT RAisiNe 0Fb CHECKS, tc,

sriaciszoixiriou forming part gf Letters Patent Noli-(73,817, datedNovember 1, 1,904;

` "-ippiic'mo aitdugmeogieo: sriai No. 170.1106. (admitir f Y' Be itknown that 1, Louis SMITH, of Chil' cago, in the county of Cookarid'Stateof 1lli-4 nois, have invented certain newand'uscful Im`piovements in Devices forfPreventing Fraud-f ulent Raising ofChecks',`&c'.f"*and`1 debereby declare that thefollowing is 'a' full,clear; y and exact description thereof,`jreferencebeing had to theaccompanying?'.'drawin'gs5fand','to

the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecilication. f This invention relates to certain "new and ing thefraudulent raisingfoficheck rafts,

and like documents olthfat"clalssv desi n cd numbers or characters`zorresporiding-jyith1 the valuer representedfbytliech ck 'r other*rdocument.'r

ieuseofa plurality of 'character/disks forfsvhcels'i'locatcd side byside and indepen'd'entlvrotatableori-a their peripherics with aplurality" and character types which redesigne by rotation ofthediskfsfon theirjaxesfianda which presses the check or, otherxdocumentupon said number` or" .character jtypesgifand" thereby produccion the,dociiinenjt a ertai'n combination .of numbers and' characters whichter-disks are provided withj leversfor indicators which cooperate withscales on .the frame numbers corresponding with the arrangement of. thenumbers and'4 characters on"ftlie peripheries of' the disks,l therebyfacilitating the setting up of the desired;combinations,"

' :uid means areprovided forvlockingsaid le'Y hlthe-"baseoffthe-machine,j\vhicli is iniulcbf vT l be i severally brought tovacornmonlpijiriting-linge v,

.WCU fifi j stia sideniatsfii; .f i. YldCl Wit fsui'table' 'vnuts'rlhear- E El'dcsignatesa plurality of characterdisks f' produce'an 'inkedimpression on` the docu-'50"v menu` orm'ay-,be constructed to perforatethe' document in the mannerofl the Well-known check-perforaton i a' y li Asshown inthe'drawings; Figure .l is a front elevationof'a. devicemade in accord-f 55 "ance witlrmyi'nventiom Fig. 2v is a verticalheels,`bejng shown as it 4would appear'if Aslioivn in: vthefdrawings7Adesignatcs A suitablefyyfeigh 'andiE ltli togivestabilitytoj fivhi'chincl', es" the cliracteisdishsfand'fisatv *Yyma'rginsfwithlrabbetsvvhich receive the mai'- have been setupby-suitable ii'ianipulation off -the character-disks. flfreferably'the charac-',-4

ginsof/th'ecurved"-iiiclosingplatej as shown Y' in Fig.2,"a'ndfvthefendsoithe shaft extend f' the. `parts are heldlirmly.together.v yThe lends "of said 4shafts 'are reduced to` yprovideoutwardly-facingfshoulders' against which theor Wheels which arcarranged side by side and are independently rotative o n the shaft l).

Sayid disks are separatod'by means of washers e, which avoid frictionbetween the adjacent faces of the disks and are providedon theirperipheries with number orch'araetcr types,' as'sliown in Figs. 2,3,-and'4. Eachof said `disks is provided with twelve types,- as herein'shown, one appropriated to each of the nine digits, one appropriated toa suitable character whiehis adapted to be imprinted at the end of acombination of numbers, and one o i' which is blank. The inclosingcurved frameplate C is provided centrally at the top of the device witha transverse opening parallel with the sha-ft D, through which thc topsof the disks project suiiiciently for the check or other document to bebrought into proper printing contact with said type, and it is at thispart of the device that the printing-line is formed or set up. Theinclosing frame-plate C is provided at its top at the left-hand side ofthe printing-line with a suitable character c, representing thedollar-sign, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4.- As ,many character-disksE are employed as are necessary to produce a number having thelrequirednumber of numerals and characters, and such number of wheels will varyin different uses of the dcvice. Six are herein shown, upon which anumber having five numerals therein may be 2S set up, one disk beingreserved to print at the end of the number the stop or terminatingcharacter shown at the lower end of the plan of one of' the diskperipheres in Fig. 5 and shown at the right hand of the set-up number inF ig. 4. i 'p YEach of the character-disks is shown as -provided with arigidly-attached lever or indicator E', and said levers. orindicators'project forwardly through slots c2 in thecurved front' faceot' the inclosing` frame C, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.At'the side of each slot is a series of Anumbers and characters coi--responding to the numbers and characters on the disk periphcrics, saidseries constitutimgv scales which coperatewith the levers or indicatorsto guide the person using the device in setting up the propercombination of numbers and characters. The slots' are provided inlateral alinement with said numbers or characters with a plurality oflaterally-directl ed 'notches c2, which are adapted to severallyreceivethe levers or indicators F1 and consti- I tute stops by which saidlevers and their disks cries of, the disks.

are .held from movement'in both directions in any position inwhichthey-are set. rangement of the series of numbers andcharactersconstituting said scales is shown atthe side of the left-hand slot ofvthe ,inclosing frame of the machine in Fig. 1', and by a coinparison ofsaid scale with Fig. 5 it' will be seen that it corresponds exactly withtheseries of numbers or characters on the periph- By preference theblank types on the disks are arranged at the centers of the diskperipheries with the numbers and characters apportioned on each sidethereof as nearly as 'may be, While the blanks andv numbers andcharacters of the scales bear a similar reiati'on. With this arrangementor the numbers and characters of the scales and BEST AV/ilLf-iBLE CGP"disks when the levers or indicators occupy their horizontal positions,as shown in Fig. 1, they are in lateral alinenient with the blank spaceson the scales, and from the foregoing description it will be readilyunderstood that 7\` the blank types on the disk are at this time 'set upin the printing-line, so that if an inipression be made at this time nonumbers or characters will appear, but only the dollarsign at theleft-hand side ofth`e printingdine. When a combination of; numbers' o`ry characters are to be set up,`the several levers are moved in theirslots, each one opposite to the number or character on its associatedscale which accords with thenumber-or char- 30 acter of the attacheddisk, which should appear in the printing-line. The levers or indicatorsare given a tendency to springinto the no tchesgc"` at the sides of.their slots, so as to Y be'automati'cally locked when moved in lat- 85eral alinement withsaid notches. When the disks are to be manipulated toset up a given combination, said levers are sprung lout of. l theirnotches which they then occupy, and arev .4

thereafter swung upwardly or downwardly 9,04

into line with the proper numbers or charac-y ters on the scales andreleased and are by ltheir own resiliency sprung into the properVholding-notch c. In this manner the disks are held securely in properposition after a'95 combination hasbeen set up. f

In' Fig. 4 a `combination of numbers or char-l acters are shown asset upon the printing-line; f so that insaid figure the levers v or indicatorsY E' occupy dilerentn 'positions from those 100 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.The dotted lines in-l dicating the levers or indicators shown in Fig;

2 show the; maximum swing of the levers necessaryto rotate the disksfrom their central positions to the limits of their movements *v W5'v ineachdirectionf` f y Any suitablefyorm of plungerl or stamp may beemployed to press the check or other docunient upon' the, line of typeat the printingline to produce the impression desired on thecheck.fnmufg. l y f As hereinlshown, -F designates a vertically.-reciprocating plunger which reciprocates in a guide-head G, locatedvabove the printingline and formed on the forward end of a fori 15wardly-curved shank G', rising from the rear sidel of the base of themachine, as more clearly shown in Fig. 31 A. lever H, hinged in saidhead and provided with a cam or eccentric H', serves to depress saidplunger,and i zo the plunger may beretracted bye suitablyapplied springwhen pressure on said lever is released. The plunger and theplunger-actu atingmechan-isin shown is substantiall y the same as thewell-known'forrn of seal-stamp and need' I 25 not be' further described.The plungeris provided on its lower end {with a'iiat horizontal plunger'plate orplaten F', made of suitable width and'pf a'length sucient toextend over the entiriflength of the maximum printing- 13 Figs. 3 andft; andI is providedat 1 'risen' line, so .as to produce an equalpressure onfall downwardly,; as required, in their slots and the typewhich may beat `any time Aset up on the printing-line. As before stated,said type may be 'formed to-perforate the check or other document. maybe made. to einboss the same, or may oe arranged toproduce an inked im-.pression. thereon. The device herein shown is arrangedto produce acombi-ned inked and embossed impression. `For this purpose an.inking-ribbon l is provided, whichistrained beneath said horizontalplaten andis woundat ends on two spools or reels Il I',4 rotativelymounted in suitable bearings 11, riss ing' li'roin theends of saidplate. vvNo Iaut0-v matic shifting mechanism is herein shownto feed saidribbonfalong said platen, `but such. mechanism maybe provided, ifdesired.' In order to produce an embossing' ettectfonI the check orother document, the bottom-of V-the platen is provided with a yieldingpad Ja ,and :is a result ot' this construction when the platen ispressed upon aset-up'line of type it strikes it with a yieldingprssure'anduproduces not only an inked impression, vbut causes thetypeto be toi-ced upwardly into the checker other document, therebyproducing thc'ernbossed efiect'. if the ribbon be omitted, the `'remainfing constructionwill operate-:to produce the embossed eliect. o j i' Ahorizon tally-movable gageplateKfls `at ti xedto a sui table horizontal`,flange c et the top,-v

ot'. the inclosing ,fratrie Cf'and Said yplate' has?. slot-tedconnection with saidrilangeyasshown :mg

m argin wi th avertical gagellangel h'clriv adapted .to be engaged bythe margin f= ``th check when placed inrtheymachineto elim" pressed,whereby-may be insured.` he stampeL VineY o'r' thenhecks at uniform'"distances from the margins the-rcel. By adjustmentoffsaid gage-platethe impressions llt'*v "4 varying distances -f1om i checks.v .Y .v

Preferably the Vnumeral-'ty pes acter-disks are formed to'providespacesfnot only for the numerals,lbut arer also made suf?? -iieientlylarge to receive thereon thew'ordcor-,-

rosporulingwith said numeral. AThis arrangc` cation ot' a numberimprinted on a vcheck-o1"- ot'ucr document nio're difficult, as it isobvi-v ous duit more skill is required to change hot'n the numeral andword than would be required to change the numeral. alone.

'lho operation ol" the deviceis obvious from l the t'oregoirzg, but maybe brielly rccapitulaual as follows: When a check or other docu-Anientis tohe s piped 'or impressed, the nurn- 0f; th. char y'dpartiri,"V from the e spiritofM the invention, K

. thereafter allowing.' said levers to spring into other notchesopposite to the ligures or characters of the scale which correspond withthose which arc to appear in the printing-line. InV

` setting up the number in Fig.4 thelet't-hand -is shifted upwardly tothestop or terminatingr character, and 'the last lever remains initsAhorizontal position, so aste .leave the blankV tspace of its attacheddisk inthe printing-line. The check or other documentis then' placed:between the-,type-line and the plunger, .andi A `tlier,ei'rftersadplunger is depressed by Sowing-v ing the vl ver H downwardly-inafamiliar manner. In this manner the check'is forced `against the type,-and an impression ,is made on the face of said check corresponding with,the numbersset 11p-inthe printing-line.

`.very.:cn1pact in`- its arrangement and con struction, Vand thev,cluuracter-disks are readily .manipulated to .set up the propercombination at the 'printing-linaf When onceset up, the disks ,are held`firmly in place until again shifted i for@ setting, up a; newcombination.- f

.95 fAfter-gawgiven combination has; been set up Y tiositafwillbeobviousftha't thisfrnay. be aci IOO shown, ".onlythe'numerals ofthenumber repl .resenting the J dollarof lithegcheck, or otherz, f

be impressediys provided for, al- ,F95 u ndocumen tol i hough e numbers:Il

y beflfdded, iffdesired.

kbviou's that changes fm y representingfltheicents i 4 ,beiimerilcliil'l'tal-A details of thedevice without A {andi} do notwish belimited tothe'specic gcornbi'natiouigherein illustrated; .excepting as-1I claim asxnyinventioni ,l

A check-,stamping Adevice comprising aA frame, a shaft extending acrossthe frame and fixed at its ends in the side walls thereof, a vpluralityof character-disks mounted directly upon said shaftside by side andindependently rotatable, each provided on its periphcry with aseries ofcharacter-types, said frame vherein made the-subject ofspecilicclailns.- 1.

being provided in its top wall with a transverse openinglthrough whichthe types ot the disks project to constitute the printing-line, and inits front wall with a plurality of slots, one in substantial alineinentwith each typediskylcvers lixcd directly to said disks and extendingforwardly through said slots and a platen for pressing the work againstthe -A types.

4, 773,817 y BST PN NLB 2. A check-stamping device comprising a frame,ashaft extending across said frame and fixed at its ends in the sidewalls thereof, a plurality of character-disks mounted. directly uponsaid'shaft side by side and independently rotatable, each provided onits periphery withaseries of character-types, said frame being providedin its top wall with atransverse opening through which the types of thedisks project to constitute the printing-line and in its front Wall witha plurality of slots, each in substantial. alinement with one of thetype-disks, levers affixed directly to said disks and extendingforwardly through said slots, means for separately locking said disks inplace, and a platen for pressing the Work against the types.

3. A check-stamping device comprising a' frame, a shaft extending acrossthe frame and fixed at its ends in the side walls-thereof, a pluralityof character disks mounted directly. upon said shaft, side by sideandindependently rotatable, each provided on its periphery with a series ofcharacter-types, said frame being provided in its top Wall with atransverse opening through which the types of the disks project toconstitute the printing-line and in its front wall with a plurality ofslots, each in substantial alinement with one of the typedisks, leversfixed directly to said disks and extending forwardly through said slots`a scale v onthefront wall of said frame adjacent to the A slots having aseries of characters corresponding in Vrelative position to thecharactertypes of the disks, and a platen for pressing the Work againstthe types.

4. A check-stamping device comprising a' frame, a shaft extending acrossthe frame and fixed at its ends in the side walls thereof, a pluralityof character-disks mounted directly upon said shaft side by side, andseparated by thin plates or washers, said disks being independentlyrotatable on said shaft and each of the disksbeing provided on itsperiphery with' aseries of character-types, said frame being provided atits 'top with a transverse opening through which the types of the disksproject to constitute the printing-line, and in its front wall with aplurality of slots, each in substantial alinerncnt with one of thetype-disks and levers tixed directly to said disks and extendingforwardly through said slots, said slotsbeing provided at their sideswith notches adapted to receive the levers to lock the lat-- ter inplace, and a platen for pressing the work against the types.

5. 'A check-stamping device comprising a frame consisting of a'base,end' plates attached thereto and a curved inclosing plate between saidend lplates and attached to the base, a shaft extending between andattached at its ends to said end plates, a plurality of character-diskslocated side by sideand independently rotata-4 ble on said shaft, andprovided on their peripheries with a; series of character-types, saidcurved inclosing plate being provided at its top with a transverse slotthrough which the character-types project to constitute the printf y aplaten for pressing the check or the likeI i upon the types presented orset up at the printing-line.

6. `A checkstamping device comprising a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of charaeter-disks mounted side by side upon said shaftandindependentlyrotative thereon, each pro;-

a'eterftype, said frame being provided in its top witha transverseopening through which i i 'the types of thedisks project to constitutethe printing-line and 'in its front Wall with a plurality of slots,levers aflixed directly te they. sidejfaces 'of said disks and extendingfori' -Wardly through said slots and a platelrforV pressing the workagainst the types.

` In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Iny invention I aiiix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of August, A. D.

l Y LOUIS SMITH.

fWitnesses:

' WILLIAM L. HALL,

TAYLOR E.'BRoWN.

85 ,vided on its periphery with a series of char-

